Friday, March 16, 2012

Freak Me Out Friday

This week on Freak Me Out Friday, the thing that freaks me out me out is...



Parallel parking! 

I have barely done this since my driving test...usually I get very anxious and flustered when attempted to parallel park.  Sometime I cry...actually, I always cry a little bit on the inside.

The mere act of having to parallel park my car completely freaks me out.  Valet was invented for a reason...Seriously...and it was so I do not have Parallel Park and experience this:
  
<Here>

In fact, most of the time if anyone is in the car with me, I need them to park for me. I will legitimately get out of the car and switch seats with a passenger so I do not have to do it myself.

If I am by myself, then I ask someone on the street to yell out what to do as I attempt to horribly park. If I have to do it myself, I am often crooked or too far from the curb.  Utter disaster...

However, today, I had to park my car downtown...magically, I was able to parallel park on my own! No one was with me and no one was in the street for me to ask for help.  I had to grit my teeth and go for it...and that I did. I was so happy I even took a photo of it.

Check it out!

Photo From My Camera

I actually parallel parked somewhat decently on my own!  I am very excited and proud of myself...Those of you who know me...you know that this is a huge accomplishment!

It still freaks me out though; I fear the next time I will have to actually attempt this again. 

Anyone have fun plans for the weekend?  Anyone else have issues parallel parking or a good story about parallel parking?

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Jew Can Do It! At the Strip Club

On Sunday of this past weekend I went on a new adventure that I never really thought I would do, but absolutely always wanted to check out....I went to a strip club. I have always dreamed of checking a place like this out and at last my time had come!

It was a friends birthday, so I decided to give him the gift of boobs in his face and a lap dance. 

It was my very first time in one of these clubs.  S and K, met us at the club to share this experience with us and we had a grand time.  I must say, when we first got there, I was scared to go in...this was uncharted territory.  But when i did get inside, we grabbed drinks sat down and I calmed myself.  I was FINALLY at a strip club!  After watching from a distance, we moved to the stage to see a prettier girl dance.  S and K and the birthday boy said we needed to get closer.  Of course, S blew up my spot by exclaiming "It's her first time and it's his birthday!" When they told the girl it was my first time there, she grabbed my chair, pulled me closer to the stage and danced for me, leaning over and singing and getting all up in my face...too close for comfort but all in good spirit.  Then she moved on to the birthday boy and as we threw down our dollars, she kept coming back.  She even had some conversation with us while she danced!

 Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic
 
I admit, I was pretty awkward because I had no idea as to how to react. Another girl smashed my face into her boobs.  It was hilarious because I was embarrassed and couldn't stop laughing. The group I was with was helpful though, they laughed at me, egged each other on, stopped me when I tried to put 3 dollars down at once (apparently I do not want to know what happens when you do that..) and we had some great conversations with the dancers.  We only went and sat by the stage when it was the A team of females on the pole and had drinks while enjoying the experience.
 
One amusing thing that happened was i had to pee, and when I entered one of the cleanest public bathrooms i have ever been in, the dancer that shoved her Ta-Ta's in my face was in there...I was scared to pee so I waited until she left and finally S came in, laughing at me and my dilemma.

After a few drinks and the birthday boys lap dance, we went home.  It was a great night that I need to relive sometime soon.  Next time, everyone says we need to go into the "other half" of the club....I wonder what awaits us there?  This adventure was certainly an eye opener.  A great place to go if you want to observe and people watch too, it can be quite entertaining. I cannot wait to go again!  Now that I have gone once, I will be more comfortable and at ease when I get stripper boobs in my face because I will expect it this time..maybe I'll even get a lap dance as my friends suggest.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tuesday Tips: Cooking Edition

This is a recipe I like to make in my slow cooker. I adapted it from a recipe I found (sited below) and it always turns out really well. You do not have to follow the recipe exactly as it is easy to alter to taste...I do that sometimes, depending on who I am cooking for and for how many people.


Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
*Note, I have a nice sized crock pot, so you might want to change amounts depending on how big your slow cooker is.*

  • 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast (you can also do this with wings  <even though they have skin on them its fine> to make BBQ wings....I've done it a few times. Delicious!)
  • 2 (12 ounce) bottle barbecue sauce (Make sure it has a molasses base! I like to use a mix of two sauces like Sweet Baby http://www.sweetbabyrays.com/ Rays and Jack Daniels http://www.jackdanielssauces.com/ Feel free to change up the sauces though.  I change them depending on what I can get my hands on at the grocery store that day or what flavors I am going for.  Use the flavors you like best!)
  • 1 cup Italian salad dressing
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • Put all of the liquid items into your slow cooker and mix together.  Add extra brown sugar, extra BBQ sauce or extra anything to taste.

    Once you have the sauce right, add the chicken and let the slow cooker do the work!  Keep it on medium for about 4 hours and them low for another hour.  Sometimes I will let it cook longer.

    You can also take a fork and pull the chicken after about 4 hours.  This gives you a great pulled chicken dinner!

    I have never heard a complaint from my adapted recipe and it is extremely easy to make. 

    Add some nice coleslaw and put it on a slider roll for a delicious pulled chicken slider!

    I got the base for this recipe from one of my favorite sites http://allrecipes.com/
    and I adapted it to my own style after reading the comments, adapting to the size of my slow cooker and getting feedback from friends.

    Try making it and let me know what you think!

    If you would like to see the original recipe, you can find it here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/zesty-slow-cooker-chicken-barbecue/detail.aspx

    Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    Tuesday's Tips

    From now on, I will be posting a "tip" every Tuesday.

    These tips can be for cooking (such as a recipes that turned out really well or useful items to use in the kitchen), life in general, hair/fashion...anything really! It doesn't even have to be a "tip" per-se, just maybe a little lesson or idea.  If you have any suggestions on what you would like to hear tips on, please let me know!
    I hope you enjoy....


    Today's Tip:

    Try to stay positive and proactive....

    When you have a ton of crap going on and things seem to be heading downhill, especially when you are overwhelmed and everything seems to be going wrong at once...try not to focus on all of the things going wrong.  Instead, focus on what is positive and what you can learn from the situation or what you can do to turn the situation around.  Remember you have a network of friends and family that love and support you, so if you are feeling blue, turn to someone for some cheering up!

    I know it is  a lot easier said than done...I do not look at the positives all the time and get frustrated.  However, if I realize I am being a bitch or if I am in a really bad mood, I do try to turn things around a but...usually. Sometimes I just do not deal, and we all do that....but here are some ideas for what you can do when you do want to turn your frown upside down...or just get your mind off things:

    Everyone has stuff going on and everyone has a shitty day or week here and there and it is totally okay to have these rough patches!  who doesn't have them?  But sometimes, when it becomes overwhelming, just try and stay positive and do what you can proactively to better the situation/yourself/etc. No matter how big or small your problem might be, this all applies. There is always someone to talk to about it, not mater what someone is there to listen and encourage you.  Go to the gym to take your mind of things, go for a jog or run, go look at puppies at the pet store, take an adventure, get away for the weekend or take a day trip just to get away for a little bit.  TRY TO HAVE FUN!  Take up a new hobby, go shopping, talk things out with a friend....all ways to make you feel better and see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Chances are, you will end up enjoying yourself and things won't seems as bad anymore.


    Also, this made laugh today...
    Funny Friendship Ecard: As someone perpetually flailing in my own relationships, allow me to offer some advice on your relationship.

    On another note, here are some blogs and sites I have been checking out/keeping up with lately:

    http://www.thesagaofatwentysomething.com/
    http://cfredrickdesignstudio.blogspot.com/
    http://www.sporcle.com/
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/
    http://theoatmeal.com/
    http://yourather.com/

    There are a whole bunch of others.  Those are just a few examples...I will post more material that I enjoy in the future.  In the meantime, I hope you check out what I have posted so far and enjoy them as much as I do!

    Monday, March 5, 2012

    Where Did the Weekend Go?

    I have to say, this weekend was fun filled and went by way too fast.

    Friends I have not seen in forever were in town visiting for the weekend and other friends I wanted to see were hanging out because we finally all had a weekend where we could all get together.

    Originally, I was hesitant to go out.  I was tired from a long week at work I kind of wanted to relax and stay in, but people were visiting and staying at the apartment for the weekend so I knew I would be doing something....

    You know you have an awesome group when a ton of people flock in from multiple states to see each other.  Our good friends CP and M basically sent out the "bat signal" in the form of text message, summoning everyone to the bar.  Even though my group headed out later than anticipated due to slow cabs and a long dinner, we arrived to the designated location and got to see some amazing people for the night.

    People literally came into CT from Mass and New York and some other far away places....it felt so good to have so many from our old crew in the same place for the evening.


    Plus having lunch with the amazing S and K on Sunday was a treat.

    Did anyone else do anything they really enjoyed this weekend?  If you are reading this and you came out with us on Friday....I was so happy to see you!  I hope it isn't too long until we reunite again!

    Funny Weekend Ecard: I will be attending your party or a better one if it comes up.

    Friday, March 2, 2012

    Freak Me Out Friday

    This week's Freak Me Out Friday is....



    Corn Fields!

     

    Yes, those long stretches when driving around farmland terrify me due to the fact that there is usually a corn field lurking about.  Ever since I saw the movie Children of the Corn when I was little, I developed a fear of corn fields.
     

    
    Put it this way, if I am driving in a creepy small town and there are tons of fields for the purpose of growing the corn crop, I am getting the hell out of there as soon as I can.  Why? because chances are there is some sort of demon child possessing all the kids and I just cannot take the risk of getting attacked by them.  Plus, when the crop is tall, it just looks evil and scary.  You never know what can be hidden within those stalks of corn!

    Do any of you have something odd that freaks you out?

    Thursday, March 1, 2012

    Confessions of an Online Dater: The One Who Texted Too Much

    Sometimes, you meet someone and they seem pretty cool, until the over enthusiastic texting begins......


    **Side Note: DO NOT think that I am not a texter by any means from this post.  I am practically attached to my cell phone and am often texting with friends back and forth...this post is about texts that are not "back and forth" and about how sometimes, you can overwhelm a girl by sending way too much, way too soon.**

    I went out with The Texter earlier this summer.  Don't get me wrong, I love to get a text from someone, have conversations etc. 2, 3, maybe even 4 or a few more (depending on the importance or how close I am to you) missed text messages is more than acceptable!.

    What I do not appreciate, is a bombardment of more than 15 texts within an hour an a half on a topic I have no interest in. I especially do not appreciate this when I am not having a conversation with you, have no interest in you, you are not my friend or boyfriend, and I have made it clear it isn't going to work.

    I went out with The Texter to a local winery, which was awesome.  The guy was a chef and had recently graduated from a prestigious culinary school.  The date went smoothly until we sat down in the vineyard with a glass of vino and some cheese.  He proceeded to tell me how much he hated school and his job, why every teacher and chef was "out to get him" and then talk endlessly about fishing. 

    Fishing is cool, not really my thing to do every weekend, but I would try it.  This kid could not shut up about fishing.

    After the date, I returned home and within two hours of leaving this guy I had 27 text messages.

    First 3: about how much fun he had and thank you texts for the date
    Next 6: about a TV show I do not watch that has to do with fishing, he was literally discussing this with himself "out loud" through texts to my phone.
    Next 3: Would I go fishing with him sometime and how much I would love camping for a week and fishing...(For those of you who know me...take bets on how long I would actually last doing this, maybe a day? Two days max? It just isn't my thing!)
    Next 3: How awesome it was that he could talk about fishing with me the whole time. (I am pretty sure i just smiled and nodded my head at appropriate times while he pretty much talked to himself...)
     
    It just kept going from there and I could not keep up.  I didn't even want to respond. I barely knew this person, we went on ONE date!  You are not my friend so leave me alone!

    Of course, after this situation, I had to let him down easy and after a few days of non stop text messaging to my phone as to why I should still go fishing with him even though I made it clear that wouldn't happen, it was done.

    Words to the wise:

    Sometimes, over texting can be a bad thing.  When I look at my phone and I see 15 unread text messages from one person I went on ONE date with, it is a turn off.  There are always exceptions...I am not saying this is ultimately a NO, if you're my friend, text me all you want...boyfriend...go ahead! Family member or someone I have been seeing for a while, great! If it is a very important conversation or has to do with important plans we made, text away! If I am responding, keep texting! Or call me!  I am happy to talk to you and listen, converse, text, anything you need, I am there for you and I would NEVER be annoyed with you...in fact, I want you to text and call me all the time!  That's what friends do and I am always happy to hear from you!  But if I barely know you and have made it clear I am not interested, just stop.

    Friday, February 24, 2012

    Freak Me Out Friday

    I have decided to theme two days of the week....My first theme will happen on Friday I will have a Freak Me Out Friday each week.

    Thank you to my lovely friend K who told me to go with this!

    Some of the strangest things "freak" me out and now thanks to my new theme you can learn about one of one these things each week!


    This weeks "Freak Me Out" is.....



    The Snuggle Bear!


    Yes, the teddy bear from the fabric softener commercials and brand scares the crap out of me.

    The way he giggles and moves is creepy, so is his voice...and everything about him.  This teddy bear gives me the heebie-jeebies and I picture him as an evil little teddy bear.  Think of it as a Chucky Doll (the killer doll from the Chucky movies) in the form of a teddy bear.

    Innocent on the outside, creepy and evil on the inside.

    Kind of like this:


    or even more evil....that was just an example.



    So there you have it!  "Snuggles" freaks me out.


    I need to think of another theme for a day of the week.  If anyone has any ideas for Mondays or Tuesdays, let me know in a comment below!

    Monday, February 20, 2012

    The One That Was Insulting

    First, I must say I apologize for my extended absence from the blogging world.  However, in this time, I have been able to collect some great material for my loyal readers! I will do my best to keep posting on a regular basis from now on...

     Here is the story of  The One Who Was Insulting:

     
    I must say, sometimes you go out with someone a few times and you ignore the warning signs....then you end up on the date from hell that starts off terrible and just gets worse until there really is no turning back.

    I went out with (lets call him Sailor...you will see why shortly) Sailor a few times.  I made the classic mistake of ignoring key warning signs that this would clearly be a disaster, until of course the third date which was insane...let's start from the begining:
    With my luck so far, I should never have answered his email.  He seemed nice and wasn't bad looking, think Dave Matthews without the awesome music skills and an annoying personality.

    Date 1: I suggested we meet half way, so he insisted on New Haven considering it was maybe a 20 minute drive for him and about an hour for me. He didnt want to go anywhere further from New Haven so I finally agreed. We had dinner, conversation was decent...he told me he was in the Navy for a few years.  Since I am a sucker for a man in uniform I inquired some more....thats when the "real" story coems out: "well I never really served" he explained that he actually never served because he left about 3/4 of the way into training due to disagreements with superior officer and "reasons he wouldn't elaborate on."  That's all fine, except you still wear your dog tags and constantly talk about how you were in the Navy....but you never served?  that kind of rubbed me a little the wrong way.

    Side note: Do not get me wrong...people have reasons to leave or do not serve, whatever, but I have friends in service, so constantly bringing up your experience when you did not go through training just kind of annoyed me.

    Then the phone calls began....everyday even if after I said I do not want to talk on the phone or am at a movie I got 2-3 voice mails so we could "chat" later when I was free.

    Second Date: We went to dinner at a great sushi place I love.  He cameout to me, which was nice since he lives an hour away and then we went for drinks after.  This is when I really ignored warning signs....

    Drinks:  We sat in a booth for drinks.  Right away he sat on the same side of the booth as me.  Now, if you like to do that, go for it, but personally this is not my style.  I would much rather sit across from you then next to you in a booth.  He ordered dessert, which I really wasn't hungry for and when it arrived he tried to feed me.  I literally put my hand up and said "I don't think so, I am a big girl and can feed myself if I decide I want anything." Then he dipped his finger in the sauce and went to shove it in my mouth...

    Listen Sailor, I do not know where you hands have been...nor do I want them in my mouth in the middle of a restaurant. He also tried to sing in my ear Dave Matthews songs...TIP: if you can't sing it, don't try. He then proceeded to talk about how awesome he is, how many girls he dated and how they all still try to see him by making up excuses adn going to his house...

    Funny Flirting Ecard: You seem like a great catch to you.

    Yet I ignored it all, chalking it up to the fact that he was 34 and maybe this is how I should be acting?

    But after this date I kind of had enough.  He called constantly. Then would make fun of my roommates because we were having a Nerf gun war...his response"in the Navy we play with real guns!"  (inner dialogue:" I really don't care, stop being an annoying douche and stop talking about how you were in the Navy").

    I also want to mention....he constatly sends me text messages refering to his very large penis...if you have to say how big it is all the time, especially in out of the blue conversation, its really not that big!  Also, I don't care, nor did I ask, so why do you keep messaging these things to me? I also have no plans to see it...so there you go.

    He did help me out for a class though since he does international business and I needed to get information about it for an interview (which he also mentioned in multiple answers about how the Navy trained him for international business). I also figured, maybe it was me being weird about someone a little older than I am used to and maybe it was just one of those bad dates.
    So I agreed to go on a third
    Date 3: When he picked me up, he wanted to get sushi or hibachi at the same place we went to last time because the owner knows me and he wanted to get another free sushi role and we got some free stuff last time....he legit said this to me so right away I was agitated.

    We get there and are seated right away, free role and the man insists we have a hibachi dinner.  I am ok with this as I usually just have sushi so it is rare for me to make this change. 

    As we finish our meal, he takes me by the shoulders and says "I am worried about you...Do you have an eating disorder? I think you might since you couldn't finish your entire meal" 

    My Mouth dropped.   I rarely eat an entire meal when I go out. On top of this....
    Are you joking!?  First, hibachi is huge, we ate sushi before the meal started and I am a small girl....but look at me!!!  I have boobs AND an ass.  Those who know me can attest....I do not have an eating disorder and trust me, I don't look like I have one either. So where this guy got this idea is way beyond me.

    The owner hears this and walks over saying "no, no She eats a lot I swear!"  I appreciate the save, but now I sound like a fat ass...oh well.

    He gives me a concerned look and says "lets go elsewhere for drinks."  I should have said no....should have ended it there, but he drive an hour for me and felt bad so I agreed.
    We sit down and it is CROWDED. I purposely sat in the center of the booth seat so he wouldn't sit next to me.  The waitress asks if we wanted food. Sailor says "we might in a little bit" so she leaves the menus after she takes our drink orders.  I had a Jameson and ginger...he had a hard cider. (I adore hard cider, but honestly, if you are out with a girl who is drinking whiskey..do not get hard cider). He then proceeds to bash the waitress for leaving the menus:

    Sailor: "Why the fuck did she leave this menu here?"
    Me: "um, you just implied you might want food later..."
    Sailor: "This is ridiculous! She could have taken away the menus and brought them back when I wanted to look at them!!"
    Me: "It really isn't that big of a deal, you said you might order something, relax. It's crowded too so who cares"
    Sailor: "ridiculous!"

    I have many friends in food service, so being rude to your server is not okay with me.  You are not above anyone, so be polite.  I hope she spit in your drink....

    Then he starts on the seating:
    (Conversations are what was really said)
    Sailor: "fuck this, I want to sit next to you, move over"
    Me: "actually, can we stay sitting across from each other? It makes me really uncomfortable siting on the same side of the booth."
    Sailor: "why? Don't you want to TALK to me?"
    Me: "It just makes me uncomfortable, I would prefer to talk to you over the table..."
    Sailor: "I have to talk louder to talk to you, I want to sit next to you"
    Me: "You can talk to me from your seat across from me."
    Sailor: "Fine. I was a (insert creepy accent here) THESPIAN! so I guess I can talk to you from here...but I want to be close to you so I can touch you and stroke your hair."
    Me: "I'm fine without that thanks"
    Sailor: "I want to get wasted"
    Me: "well you still have to drive me home, but I guess I can just call my roommate to come get me"
    Sailor: "You should trust me!"
    Me: "I don't ha ha"
    Sailor: "you should...new drink!! (he insisted on drinking from a dark bottle rather than a glass so since I was no where near done with my drink, the waitress didn't come over.  He stands up and says "she fucking sucks I'm going to the bar!" snaps his fingers until she comes over and rudely demands a new beverage)
    Sailor: "fine then I am sitting next to you!"


    He then gets up, comes to my side of the booth ans shoves me over....putting his hand in my hair and turning my head so I have to look at him.

    Sailor: "isn't this better? we can talk now"
    Me: can you not? Also, I think I know someone over there so take your hand out of my hair"
    Sailor: "all the more reason to show off" (kisses my neck)
    Me: "seriously, stop"
    Sailor: "Fine"


    After drinks I slipped some extra cash into the bill since he barely tipped our server and he drove me home...but of course,  it didn't end there...oh, no..


    Once in my parking lot, he ran over to my side of the car to open the door and gets on me like a girl would sit on a guys lap to kiss me.  He grabs my hair and says "keep your eyes open, I want to watch you enjoy my kisses."
    (seriously, we have barely made out...who the heck says this stuff?)


    CREEP!

    Me: "okay thanks! goodnight!"
    Sailor: "wait...you are not inviting me up?
    Me: "nope, goodnight! Bye!"
    Sailor: but its the third date! I want to meet your friends..."
    Me: "Well I don't want you to meet them and I don't care so goodnight."
    Sailor: "we don't have to have sex! I just want to sleep over!"
    Me: "yeah that isn't going to happen so goodnight"


    I make my escape upstairs and reflect...Dating 101: Never ignore warning signs or you will embark on a date from hell.